ORACLE 12C Automatic big table caching

In my first blog post i will talk about one of the new feature added in Oracle 12.1.0.2, that is automatic big table caching.

Like the name suggest automatic big table caching enable caching of big table in memory precisely in a portion of the buffer cache (avoiding direct path read). First, what is considered a big table and how table scan was handled in pervious release that is 11g (When direct path read does kick in)? And then we will discover this new feature.

All tests are done in 12.1.0.2 and 11.2.0.3.9 single instance database. (Using default buffer cache and default parameters)